To the spectators and volunteers at the wet and wild Westchester Triathlon, thank you so much for your support!  To the participants, congratulations on not only surviving, but thriving in less than stellar conditions.  You’re all incredible. (And to whoever mule-kicked me in the face during the swim, knocking off my goggles, I forgive you.)

Since 11 am yesterday morning, I’ve eaten pizza, a hot dog, hamburger, potato salad, General Tso’s tofu, hot and sour soup and a Tofutti Cutie — and let’s not forget the post-race stop at Ruby’s Oyster Bar in Rye for celebratory beers and a piece of ice cream cake.

As my teammate Ray put it, this is the week when he will “eat everything in sight, moving or not moving.”  Now that’s a stance I can get behind.  In fact, I may get that as a bumper sticker.

Ray’s also the one who clued me in to this little gem, Sweet Potatoes in New Rochelle.

Not far from I-95, Sweet Potatoes serves Southern comfort food, a rarity in Westchester.   You can eat in — there are three tables and a counter — but I’m guessing most of their business is from takeout and delivery.

The restaurant doesn’t have a website, so let me share a sample of the menu items: crab cakes, southern fried chicken, fried catfish, wine braised beef short ribs, collard greens, mac-n-cheese, sweet potato pie, peach cobbler… drooling yet?

I honed right in on the chicken and waffles, until the owner pointed out one of the specials: the chiwaffle (“Shawafel” has got company now for funny food words).   She explained it to me — fried chicken breasts wrapped in a waffle; all the flavors of chicken and waffles in an easier to eat package.  She didn’t have to twist my arm; I was down for trying the chiwaffle, with a side order of candied yams.

The owner disappeared to prepare my food. Minutes later, wonderful aromas began emanating from the kitchen; I could smell the sweetness from the yams and the waffle, and the fried from the chicken.

Here’s the chiwaffle.

I’m telling you right now, if push cart vendors in Manhattan started selling chiwaffles (and maybe they already do), these things would be the talk of the Midtown Lunch blog.  Another look, closer up.

The construct is very much like a falafel or gyro — only instead of pita, the wrap is a soft and slightly sweet cornbread waffle with whole kernels of corn, the perfect foil for piping hot, crisp, lightly breaded chicken.  Then the whole thing is served with a spicy ranch dipping sauce.  It’s portable and simply delicious.

So were the candied yams, chunky and sweet with brown sugar and cinnamon.

Has anyone tried the fried chicken at Sweet Potatoes?  How is it?  Since the restaurant’s small, I’d recommend swinging by for takeout.  But if you’re going to order the chiwaffle, don’t wait until you get home.  Eat it while it’s hot. Heck, you can eat it while you’re walking to your car.

As for me, I will continue to dine well this week (I’m breaking out the good recipes). Maybe not eating everything in sight, moving or not moving… but close to it.

Sweet Potatoes Restaurant
393 North Ave.
New Rochelle, NY
914-654-0500